First XT tour impressions.
While heat and smoke grips the west, there was a pocket of good weather in Montana and Wyoming, so I left Spokane, went to Three Forks, MT, Buffalo WY, then into the Big Horns to camp and then back home through Yellowstone. 6 days, 1500 odd miles.
The Farkles I chose worked out well. The Givi Airflow 2 windscreen, the 15L Givi tank bag, gas tank locking ring type, and the SW Motech drybag 350s all worked as advertised and better. I was expecting the tank bag locking system to be a PITA but it “sought” its mounting ring and locked very easily. The Suzuki crash bars gave no bad vibrations. To check this, I would set the NEP throttle lock and rest my booted feet , one at a time then both at once, on them to change their harmonics. I could tell no difference through the seat , bars or pegs. The Suzuki Panniers, while great for everyday riding, suffer from their odd interior shape and could be a bit bigger and I wonder if there is a way to “quick change” to another larger, albeit boxier, set of bags for touring.
The bike itself continues to amaze me. It cruises at 80 mph vibration free and like it is on a rail, and insensitive to winds. I never needed to adjust the chain the whole trip, but it was heavily lubed every day. I do have two nits to pick. The speedo reads 85 mph at a true GPS velocity of 80 mph. And while I am 6 ft. 2 inches with 34 in legs and 34 waist, the seat is really too tall to put a leg over it with the luggage on the bike (for an old man,) an Airhawk seat pad and sheep skin. I managed to mount it like I mount my NT 700…the kick and hop. I tried mounting the bike like getting on a horse and almost high sided it so no more of that. I am thinking of getting the lower seat to try for touring.
I still need to go on an equipment diet, but the down bag, small packing and expensive but comfortable Nemo cosmo 30” XL air mattress, and smaller tent have helped. Still, all the camping gear with the stove, food, headlamps, water, etc take up one of the Motech bags, and 25 lbs. I don’t think I can loose much there.
This bike was the right choice for me. I am sure Suzuki will put on Ride by wire and cruise some day but I doubt they will go to a fully enclosed chain or shaft drive.
While heat and smoke grips the west, there was a pocket of good weather in Montana and Wyoming, so I left Spokane, went to Three Forks, MT, Buffalo WY, then into the Big Horns to camp and then back home through Yellowstone. 6 days, 1500 odd miles.
The Farkles I chose worked out well. The Givi Airflow 2 windscreen, the 15L Givi tank bag, gas tank locking ring type, and the SW Motech drybag 350s all worked as advertised and better. I was expecting the tank bag locking system to be a PITA but it “sought” its mounting ring and locked very easily. The Suzuki crash bars gave no bad vibrations. To check this, I would set the NEP throttle lock and rest my booted feet , one at a time then both at once, on them to change their harmonics. I could tell no difference through the seat , bars or pegs. The Suzuki Panniers, while great for everyday riding, suffer from their odd interior shape and could be a bit bigger and I wonder if there is a way to “quick change” to another larger, albeit boxier, set of bags for touring.
The bike itself continues to amaze me. It cruises at 80 mph vibration free and like it is on a rail, and insensitive to winds. I never needed to adjust the chain the whole trip, but it was heavily lubed every day. I do have two nits to pick. The speedo reads 85 mph at a true GPS velocity of 80 mph. And while I am 6 ft. 2 inches with 34 in legs and 34 waist, the seat is really too tall to put a leg over it with the luggage on the bike (for an old man,) an Airhawk seat pad and sheep skin. I managed to mount it like I mount my NT 700…the kick and hop. I tried mounting the bike like getting on a horse and almost high sided it so no more of that. I am thinking of getting the lower seat to try for touring.
I still need to go on an equipment diet, but the down bag, small packing and expensive but comfortable Nemo cosmo 30” XL air mattress, and smaller tent have helped. Still, all the camping gear with the stove, food, headlamps, water, etc take up one of the Motech bags, and 25 lbs. I don’t think I can loose much there.
This bike was the right choice for me. I am sure Suzuki will put on Ride by wire and cruise some day but I doubt they will go to a fully enclosed chain or shaft drive.
